October 25, 2002   Well, UPW finally appeared at The Edgewater Hotel & Casino on Saturday, October 19.  What started off as "just another event' turned out to be a catalyst in many ways for UPW.  The Edgewater staff and facilities were great (rooms and meals for all were part of the deal), first-class production, and with just a few small exceptions, the show was awesome from top-to-bottom.  Lamar "Sabbath" Tinnin turned in a star-making performance teaming with Skulu (as "Savage") to battle UPW Tag Champs The Ballards.   Derrick Niekirk became a great new hand for UPW, taking Tommy Wilson to an excellent, old-school, dramatic match in front of an extremely hot crowd.  Al Katrazz and Hardkore Kidd went at it again in what's quickly becoming a classic "falls count anywhere" program, helped along by the amazing pre-tape production by Ron McIntyre, Todd Keneley and Roger Jarrett.  So yes, the action was great, the crowd was great, the production was great and the venue was great; but what made the whole experience really great was the vibe.  I want to give special props also to "Lil" Nate Nickerson (at 16, too young to work in Nevada), Shane Roberts and Erica "Jungle Grrrl" Porter, all of whom made the long drive to show their support.  Say what you will about regional competitiveness, internet nonsense and the like --and maybe I'm being delusional here-- but the Laughlin experience was return to that whole "family" feeling that was the norm at UPW in '99 and 2000.  And as hard as we all work for the relatively small amount of money we make (yes, this "rich" promoter included), this is what makes it all worth it.   In the height of UPW's WWF Development Deal and Discovery Documentary fame, I was out to beat the world.  I realize now that not only was trying to become "the next WWF" unrealistic, but it also set the stage for a very stressful (and money-draining) environment.  We maintained an office with big expenses, 6 employees and countless others helping out in "freelance" roles.  The "About Us" section of our web site used to feature a giant cast of individuals.  Well, look at it now.  Small and manageable.  But beyond that, we're "down" now to a vastly reduced group who just get it.  Who are in it, first and foremost, to learn the business, and then after that, in no particular order(?) to have lots of fun and make a little money.   One of these individuals (who shall remain nameless, lest he take any abuse from the local internet knuckleheads) remarked that Laughlin was a culmination of all he had originally hoped for when he joined UPW over 2 years ago.  For all these reasons, this is now a business that makes sense. Now rather than trying to be the "next" anything, I just want to progress a little at that time, and keep as our foremost objective, creating opportunities for deserving and hard-working individuals.  By the way, UPW is back at Laughlin in January.    Here are some well-deserved opportunities recently realized through UPW: Frankie Kazarian will have a busy Holiday season.  He's with Zero-One in Japan from November 18 - 27 and then straight off to Europe from there for the WWA tour.  Mike "Kid Vicious" Balasis  will join Frankie at WWA. Nathan Jones comes to the US on November 1 for 11 days on the road, including RAW and Smackdown appearances.  Nathan is also on the Zero-One and WWA tours.  His schedule from October 17 to December 18 goes Japan - Australia - US - Japan - Europe - Japan and back to Australia in time for Christmas, likely making him the hardest-working man in wrestling during this 2 month period. And, how's this for a couple of out there "UPW opportunities:" Van "Shaolin Punk" Ayasit has been invited by Zero-One to relocate to Japan to train in the Z1 dojo.  Van is one of the most natural guys I have ever seen, with one of the best attitudes and huge potential.  A stint in Japan (during the freezing winter no less) would undoubtedly make him one of the toughest.  Van, of all things, is in Thailand making a movie right now, and we'll determine upon his return of/when he'll be leaving to pursue his dreams in Japan. Lil' Nate has been invited to accompany Roddy Piper on his national book tour beginning November 4 and concluding December 18.  His family has consented to taking this 4.0 student out of school to allow him to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Hey, I'll bet ya 2 short months from now, Nate will be able to drink and swear with the best of them.  All kidding aside,  if you're going to learn the business, there is no better teacher than Roddy.  I am just now completing the first round of  nearly 50 "Talent Development Evaluations" that I'm preparing under our renewed association with WWE, and Nate, for many reasons, is getting one of the best reports. This is a good chance to segue in all things WWE.  First, I couldn't be happier to be working with them again.  My goal, pure and simple, is to continue to grow UPW very slowly, while we do our very best to develop talent for bigger and better opportunities.  In 1999-2000, we sent 14 development prospects to WWE.  With so many tremendous prospects now developing at Ultimate University under the watchful guidance of Tom Howard, Shannon & Shane Ballard and Aaron Aguilera, I would not be surprised at all to see UPW match, or exceed that number over the next 2 years.   Unfortunately (on one hand), WWE will not be with us November 6 at The Galaxy for Home of the Brave.  Ironically, and on the other hand,  the Talent Relations staff who was going to visit us will be staying in Connecticut during that period to evaluate UPW's Nathan Jones.  Now, before the aforementioned internet knuckleheads start going off on how "unfair" this is because Nathan is "just big," let me ask you this?  How many big guys do you know that wrestle live show 30 out of 45 days and the days they're not wrestling, are either hitting the weights, running, swimming, boxing and cutting promos, or a combination of some or all of the above?  Or for that matter, how many small guys?  Enough said.  I'm happy for Nathan, who had as tough a childhood as anyone I know, and who paid far more dearly.  He's persevered through alot, and over the past year, finally begun to attain some real success;  maintaining a real humility through it all.  After nearly a year of campaigning with the US consulate in Australia, we won a victory a few weeks ago when Nathan was issued a working visa to the States.  I can't fault WWE at all for wanting to take advantage of an opportunity to look up close at Nathan --- a one-of-a-kind prospect--  as soon as possible.    Yes, I'm disappointed WWE will not be here in person in November, but our great talent will have many opportunities to shine in front of the people at Titan Towers.  First, through the Development Reports.  Then through a taping we'll be doing at a very special Lite Show on Saturday, November 2 and of course, through the taping at The Galaxy November 6.   WWE has already scheduled to join us, however, Wednesday, January 29 at Ultimate University and for our 4th Anniversary show Thursday, January 30 at The Galaxy.  For this very special occasion, we'll be inviting past UPW Champions such as Aaron Baker, Staz, Mike Bell and Christopher Daniels.  Hey, who the hell knows, maybe even Mikey Henderson will show up.  Marty Rubalcaba, Todd Keneley and I have already started to work on this show and we expect to be a truly special evening.   Back to The Galaxy November 6.  Our esteemed Japanese partners, Zero-One will be there!  So will Spanky, in his last SoCal appearance before starting on Smackdown, as well as the folks from Pro Wrestling Iron -- in force!  Heather Millane (Teri Gold, of "WOWE" fame) has signed up for the Women's Royal Rumble, which will also see the return of Rio Storm to UPW action.  The card at this time, which contains such great matches as Tom Howard V Hardkore Kidd, Steve Corino V Samoa Joe and B-Boy V Frankie Kazarian, is in a word, "fluid," as we expect to announce another BIG surprise (or two) in the next few days that may change the line-up.   In MAJOR news, Nathan Jones & Jon Heidenreich have upset Shinjiro Otani and Masato Tanaka to win the International Tag Team Championships in Japan this past Tuesday.  Congrats to the new champs and a big "welcome back" to Big Jon, rejoining the UPW fold and making an impact on Zero-One's current "Improvement 2" tour.  Also representing UPW this tour are Spanky (his last tour there), Keiji Sakoda, who is just getting better and better in every respect, and the due of Sylvester "Predator" Terkay and "Solo" Jimmy Snuka, Jr., reprising the legendary Bruiser Brody/Superfly Snuka duo.   Predator and Solo are doing great and I look forward to seeing them both back early next week.  Sylvester goes right back to work commercially upon his return, this time for UPW sponsor "Monster" Energy Drink.   New students at Ultimate University include Nikki Tsogranes, who relocated from New Jersey to train with us, and Mosey Humphrey, already a fine worker, who is making the 2 1/2 hour drive from San Diego to train at Ultimate.  With Van and Nate likely leaving UU for a few months, we'll be looking to work-horses like Mike Mizanin, James Lukash and Sam Culver to set the dedication standard for the newer students.   Even though certain friends may no longer be active with UPW, you still want to keep them in your heart.  For this reason, I want put out a "keep up the great work!" to Lisa Marie "Victoria" Varon, who looks like a sure bet to be wearing WWE gold in the near future, and to Brett "Big Schwag" Wagner, who has found a much-deserved home on national TV on The Discovery Channel.   New this week to WWW.UPW.COM: an in-depth look at UPW action on Zero-One's current Improvement 2 tour Superstar bios on Tom Howard, Marshall Knox, and Melissa Coates Student of the Month Sam Culver Wrestler of the Month Sylvester Terkay New "Photo Shoot" page All of this content can be linked from our home page.   As long as I'm plugging the web site (here comes the shill)....check out our store.  Our well-regarded Training Series will be available next week, at long last, on DVD.  Available now is the extremely popular "Shock Wave" 2-set video, which features UPW's greatest stars against some of the biggest name in the business.  At The Galaxy on November 6,  we'll have new UPW and Ultimate University shirts available.  Shortly after, they'll appear on the site, in the store section.   Thanks again, to all who have hung in there and supported UPW through our toughest times.  We hope you'll stay with us, and enjoy, now that things have become fun once again.  That's all for now and I look forward to catching up with you in a couple of weeks.   Rick         Just because I like this picture! (l-r: with ORIGINAL UPW girls Carnidge, Savvy, Looney & Miss Delicious)     Ultimate Update Archives:   October 3, 2002   September 15, 2002   September 5, 2002   August 1, 2002   July 1, 2002 -- Ultimate University   June 21, 2002   May 25, 2002   --   Japan and more